London to stage world’s first “smart street”

The New West End Company is poised to launch what it claims is the world’s first “smart street” – a new concept in technology and retail.

Bird Street, which is just off Oxford Street, will be transformed into “an oasis of technology, fashion, innovation and sustainability” in an initiative supported by Transport for London’s Future Streets incubator scheme.

The “tech-friendly, traffic-free hub” will be transformed with a range of cutting edge sustainable technologies, including bringing in PaveGen technology which generates electricity from pedestrian movement, and Airlite’s revolutionary air purifying paint.

A curated and revolving selection of pop-ups will appear in the hub, in partnership with Appear Here, the leading marketplace for temporary spaces. Appear Here and The New West End Company, which represents the interests of businesses in London’s West End, are actively seeking “interesting and innovative fashion and tech brands” to participate in the pioneering project, which launches next month.

Lauretta Roberts is managing director and Editor-in-Chief of The Industry, having acquired the business along with business partner Antony Hawman in July 2015. She is also the former director of brand & propositions of trend forecaster WGSN and a former editor of Drapers magazine.

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